Considers issues surrounding the use of differentiated examinations. Discusses how differentiation may be provided, the wording of questions, and how marks should be given. Highlights some pitfalls of using this approach. Concludes that, although differentiated examinations are possible, they will not always meet the needs of the end range of test…

Defines grade level as an age grouping that yields an achievement distribution approximating a normal curve, with the distribution average at grade level in a typical school. With an average teacher, an average child gains a year. Educators must accept this normal range of reading achievement and adjust instruction to it. Includes eight…

A literature review describes several dimensions of cognitive styles in an effort to illustrate individual stylistic differences. Discusses the field dependence-independence dimension, taking into account age, sex, and cultural differences. Suggests that cognitive style theory needs to be structured in a broader theoretical framework. (NH)

Tested hypotheses that clients' perceptions of therapeutic factors depend on the stage of group development and on client individual difference variables, using critical incident reports obtained from 18 participants in three 11-session counseling groups. Results indicated differences in relative importance of therapeutic factors as seen by group…

Individual differences in the recall of procedural and structural/functional information was investigated in situations in which students studied in dyads or alone. Subjects were 303 undergraduates. Dyadic study proved more effective than studying alone. (TJH)

Examines the course of emotion expression development during the first 2 years of 58 full-term and preterm children through videotapes of mother/infant pairs. Mothers' contingency behavior appeared to have an effect on emotional development, as did birth status and gender. Prematurity was associated with differential socioemotional development.…

Although more than 40 states have developed public school choice plans, not all plans are equally effective. Problems and possibilities of school choice options in East Harlem (New York), Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin are outlined. Sidebars list types of plans and elements of successful plans. Includes 13 references. (MLH)

Summarizes research on the field dependence-independence (FDI) dimension of cognitive styles of teachers. Argues for the integration of FDI knowledge into teacher preparation programs and more attention to teachers' and students' cognitve styles. (DE)

Asserts that the sudden insights that characterize intuitive thinking are as important in effectuating learning as analytical thinking. Claims that intuitive thinking enables students to comprehend complex relationships better, to put things into better perspective, to generate new ideas, and to perceive more ways to integrate facts, concepts, and…

Evaluated quasi-experimental simulation technique designed to measure impact of individual differences in managerial styles on executive performance. Tested 20 simulation-based measures for reliability and validity. Data from two samples suggest that this quasi-experimental simulation technology may be useful in assessing managerial styles not…

A child with chronic otitis media with effusion solved the problem of reduced and fluctuating auditory input with phonological selection and avoidance strategies that capitalized on prosodic cues. Findings illustrate the need to consider interactions among performance, input, and linguistic constraints to explain individual variation in language…

The role of cognitive and linguistic individual differences as well as contextual factors and processing complexity were examined as determinants of pronoun reversal (I/you). It is proposed that pronoun reversals commonly result from a failure to perform a deicitic shift, which is especially likely when children's psycholinguistic processing…

The ideological positions that developed in a teacher research group were analyzed. The conflicts and interchanges among participants revealed important divisions within the teacher research movement that generate needed discussions of pedagogical practice. (SLD)

Investigated birth-order differences in children's early vocabulary development. Compared the composition and age of acquisition of the first 50 and 100 words of 9 firstborns and their younger siblings, using a longitudinal maternal diary methodology. A small but significant birth-order effect was found for the age at which the 50-word milestone…

This observational study examined the development and use of communication in a pair of deaf and hearing monozygotic twins from 13 to 36 months of age. Both children were enrolled in a total communication preschool program. In contrast to the hearing twin, the deaf twin used imitative (rather than responsive) signs and gestures. (Author/DB)